Group-based Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Services

Learn how to help your child enhance their social and play skills through fun activities with Ready, Set, Play! 

This program offers parents/caregivers the opportunity to:

• Play with their child in an interactive, play-based, small group format 
• Receive coaching and learn specific strategies to support their child’s play
• Explore new toys and ways to play with their child
• Participate in fun and interactive group activities

There are four levels within Explorer Club. Each level focuses on a set of play and social skills so that the program can be tailored to your child as they learn and grow. In this way, your child can progress through the levels within Explorer Club at their own pace. Our group participants are matched based on their age, skills, and goals to make the group as fun and successful as possible for everyone.

Depending on your child’s skills, their Explorer Club goals may include: 

• Join in play with others 
• Take turns, share responsibility, and problem-solve through play  
• Self advocate by asking to continue, saying “no”, or seeking clarification  
• Answer questions from adults and peers
• Classroom skills such as transitioning with the group, waiting for their turn, and following group instructions

Weekend Sessions

Calling all young adventurers! Embark on a journey of self-discovery and social-emotional growth with the AIM Explorers. Based on curriculum developed by Dr. Mark Dixon, this group teaches kids socio-emotional skills through storytelling, games, and fun characters like Bidzill the Bear, Tulle the Turtle, and Ophelia the Octopus.

In this group, participants will learn to:

• identify the feelings and thoughts that can affect their behaviour at home, school, and in their relationships with others
• learn new ways of thinking that can help them persevere through difficult situations
• important tools to help them balance their own emotions, develop their personal values, and make better choices

In Bully Proofing Crew, children are taught skills to handle and respond to teasing and bullying.

In this program, the topics covered include:

• Handling teasing
• Responding to embarrassing feedback
• Minimizing cyberbullying
• Managing rumours and gossip
• Handling physical bullying
• Handling disagreements
• Changing a reputation

Weekend Sessions

Children’s Friendship Training combines child and parent sessions to support children in making and keeping friends.

In this group, children will learn the skills needed to:

• Make a good first impression
• Converse with other children
• Find common interests with other children
• Play fairly and be gracious when winning or losing
• Resolve conflicts
• Join other children at play
• Be a good host on a playdate

There are no winter sessions currently planned. If you’re interested in this group, please complete the interest form and a member of our team will get in touch with you.

Strong feelings can be confusing to anyone, and especially to a child. Kinark’s Exploring Feelings program is based on curriculum developed by world-renowned Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Tony Attwood, and helps children recognize connections between the way they’re thinking and feeling.

In this group, children will learn to:

• Recognize and understand their emotions
• Understand how emotions can affect their body, thoughts, behaviour, and speech
• Identify situations that may provoke certain feelings and begin to build their “Emotional Toolbox” with tools they can use during difficult situations

Weekend Sessions

In Friendship Crew, children are taught social skills that support friendship building and are given the opportunity to practice these skills.

Friendship Crew goals include:

• Starting and entering conversations
• Maintaining reciprocal conversations
• Choosing appropriate friends
• Good sportsmanship
• Handling disagreements

Meet up with old friends and make some new ones!

Hangout with Friends is designed for children and teens who are currently in or have participated in our social skill groups. Led by the interests of the group, participants may prepare a lunch or snack together, share lunches, play board games, or engage in group activities in a safe and supportive environment.

Together with our experienced clinicians and overseen by an R.B.A. (Ont.), participants will have a chance to practice skills they learned in groups, including:

• Identifying common interests
• Starting and ending conversations
• Maintaining reciprocal conversations
• Using humour appropriately
• Being a good sport
• Handling disagreements
• Any other skills as opportunities arise

Weekend Sessions

The goal of our Fearless Social Group is to create a supportive environment for participants to have fun and make friends. We strive to build self-esteem, encourage peer support, and foster the development of social conversations and relationships.

Our Fearless themes are:

• RED. Nail Painting and DIY Spa Night.
• WILDEST DREAMS. Learn how to braid or create fun styles with your hair!
• SPARKS FLY. Cupcake baking.
• BAD BLOOD. Board Game Night.
• SHAKE IT OFF. Learn how to dance while enjoying your favourite music!
• BLANK SPACE. Paint night.
• LOVER. Make your own friendship bracelet!

Kinark’s AIM program is based on curriculum developed by Dr. Mark Dixon and Dr. Dana Paliliunas. AIM helps participants develop social-emotional skills by combining three evidence-based practices: Mindfulness Training, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). 

In this group, participants will learn to:

• identify the feelings and thoughts that can affect their behaviour at home, school, and in their relationships with others
• learn new ways of thinking that can help them persevere through difficult situations
• important tools to help them balance their own emotions, develop their personal values, and make better choices

Level up your job-hunting skills and be prepared for the workplace!

In Career Connections, participants will learn:

• How to look for a job that matches their interests, strengths, and skills
• To write a resumé
• Job interview skills
• Social skills, self-advocacy skills and unwritten social “rules” of the workplace

Dungeons & Dragons is a role-playing game that uses storytelling to create an interactive and engaging environment where participants can practice problem solving and social skills.

In this group, participants have opportunities to:

• Work collaboratively with others
• Practice problem-solving
• Engage in conversations

The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) is internationally acclaimed and used in over 35 countries. Parent participation is a vital component of PEERS® and allows for the concepts and strategies learned in the group to be implemented in the community. Parent sessions will run concurrently with teen sessions.

In this full 14-week program, participants will learn to:

• Use appropriate conversation skills
• Use electronic communication in a safe way
• Choose appropriate friends
• Use humour appropriately
• Start, join, and exit conversations
• Be a good host during get-togethers
• Be a good sport
• Handle arguments and disagreements
• Handle rejection, teasing, and bullying
• Change a bad reputation
• Handle rumors and gossip

PEERS® Bully Proofing is an evidence-based social skills group for motivated teens and young adults who are interested in learning skills to handle and respond to teasing and bullying.

In PEERS® Bully Proofing, the topics covered will include:

• Handling teasing
• Responding to embarrassing feedback
• Minimizing cyberbullying
• Managing rumours and gossip
• Handling physical bullying
• Handling disagreements
• Changing a reputation

There are no winter sessions currently planned. If you’re interested in this group, please complete the interest form and a member of our team will get in touch with you.

PEERS® Dating is an evidence-based social skills group for motivated teens and young adults who are interested in learning skills to be successful in the dating world. 

In PEERS® Dating, the topics covered will include:

• Flirting with potential partners
• Letting someone know you like them
• Choosing appropriate people to date
• Asking someone on a date
• Handling rejection
• Turning someone down
• Planning and going on dates
• Dating do’s and don’ts
• Handling pressure from partners

Barrie

10 Murray Street, Barrie, ON L4N 2X2

• January 28 – March 28, 2025 (no class March Break)
• Tuesdays, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
• 7 sessions x 1.5 hours each
• 6 parent sessions x 1.5 hours each
• Cost: $800

PEERS® Friendship is an evidence-based social skills group for motivated teens and young adults who are interested in learning new ways of making and keeping friends. 

In PEERS® Friendship, the topics covered include:

• Starting and entering conversations
• Maintaining reciprocal conversations
• Choosing appropriate friends
• Finding a source of friends
• Good sportsmanship
• Organizing get-togethers
• Handling disagreements
• Changing a reputation

There are no winter sessions currently planned. If you’re interested in this group, please complete the interest form and a member of our team will get in touch with you.

Level up your job-hunting skills and be prepared for the workplace!

In Career Connections, participants will learn:

• How to look for a job that matches their interests, strengths, and skills
• To write a resumé
• Job interview skills
• Social skills, self-advocacy skills and unwritten social “rules” of the workplace

PEERS® Dating is an evidence-based social skills group for motivated teens and young adults who are interested in learning skills to be successful in the dating world.

In this program, the topics covered will include:

• Flirting with potential partners 
• Letting someone know you like them 
• Choosing appropriate people to date 
• Asking someone on a date 
• Handling rejection 
• Turning someone down 
• Planning and going on dates 
• Dating do’s and don’t’s
• Handling pressure from partners

PEERS® Friendship is an evidence-based social skills group for motivated teens and young adults who are interested in learning new ways of making and keeping friends.

In this program, the topics covered will include:

• Starting and entering conversations 
• Maintaining reciprocal conversations 
• Choosing appropriate friends 
• Finding a source of friends 
• Good sportsmanship 
• Organizing get-togethers 
• Handling disagreements 
• Changing a reputation 

There are no winter sessions currently planned. If you’re interested in this group, please complete the interest form and a member of our team will get in touch with you.